The_Brown_Hornet
John Eales (66)
Totally agree on the short balls to trailing runners in close. I almost got a semi when I saw the Tahs pigs doing that last week.
Wallabies v England, Sat 11th June, 8.00pm, Suncorp Brisbane
- Thread starter KOB1987
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Groucho
Greg Davis (50)
Hopefully the Tahs won't also almost get a semi.
Joe Blow
John Hipwell (52)
A big difference between the Wallabies and the ABs over the recent past has been the latters forward ability to get involved with passing exchanges/offloads amongst themselves and linking with the backs. There is no question of the quality of the NZ locks in this department. Ditto their back row.
If Cheika can find a number 8 who possesses similar qualities to his current back up but has a great passing/running game to boot and a superior lineout presence, why wouldn't he have a look at him.
Ditto with Arnold. He's big, hard working in the tight and good in the lineout. He also has some other skills outside of our current locks and doesn't have hands like frying pans.
Hooper is good in this regard and Pocks linking game is improving. Surprisingly some of our front rowers are pretty good. Slipper and Moore particularly.
If we are going to improve the 15 or 20% we need to regularly beat the best, this is one of the areas where Cheika is going to find it.
I wouldn't be surprised to see Houston in the final squad and on the bench for at least one or two tests if he shows enough this week.
If we roll out the same squad with the same skills and the same game plan as last year our results are not going to be great. Everyone has moved ahead.
If Cheika can find a number 8 who possesses similar qualities to his current back up but has a great passing/running game to boot and a superior lineout presence, why wouldn't he have a look at him.
Ditto with Arnold. He's big, hard working in the tight and good in the lineout. He also has some other skills outside of our current locks and doesn't have hands like frying pans.
Hooper is good in this regard and Pocks linking game is improving. Surprisingly some of our front rowers are pretty good. Slipper and Moore particularly.
If we are going to improve the 15 or 20% we need to regularly beat the best, this is one of the areas where Cheika is going to find it.
I wouldn't be surprised to see Houston in the final squad and on the bench for at least one or two tests if he shows enough this week.
If we roll out the same squad with the same skills and the same game plan as last year our results are not going to be great. Everyone has moved ahead.
The_Brown_Hornet
John Eales (66)
Agree JB. Let's not forget Kepu's ball playing game either. He set that first Foley try up against England last year with that fantastic offload in contact.
I really like Arnold as a player BTW and think he should start against England. He's got a lot of the attributes you would want from a test lock and seems to have a bit of mongrel about him as well.
I really like Arnold as a player BTW and think he should start against England. He's got a lot of the attributes you would want from a test lock and seems to have a bit of mongrel about him as well.
Intruder
Dave Cowper (27)
Training observations
A lot of mixing and matching but the boys picked in bibs first included starting players. Only seems to be right to think it probably was or close to what we'll somewhat see;
15. DHP
14. Nabuli
13. Kuridrani
12. Folau
11. Horne
10. Foley
9. Phipps
8. Pocock
7. Hooper
6. Fardy
5. Simmons
4. Horwill
3. Holmes
2. Moore
1. Slipper
A lot of mixing and matching but the boys picked in bibs first included starting players. Only seems to be right to think it probably was or close to what we'll somewhat see;
15. DHP
14. Nabuli
13. Kuridrani
12. Folau
11. Horne
10. Foley
9. Phipps
8. Pocock
7. Hooper
6. Fardy
5. Simmons
4. Horwill
3. Holmes
2. Moore
1. Slipper
wamberal
Phil Kearns (64)
Nabuli and Horne?
I hope not. No disrespect to either player, particularly Horne. But surely we can do better than that? Particularly if DHP is chosen.
Viking
Mark Ella (57)
Folau 12 - wow
the idea is growing on me
The greatest runner of the ball but probably the poorest distributor of the ball. Not too keen on it.
KOB1987
John Eales (66)
If it's true then it's probably an indication that the game plan is to run at them. And it could just be purely for the Poms series.
Joeleee
Ted Fahey (11)
He's still not good, but I feel like he's improved in this area a lot this year. I wouldn't say I have confidence in him doing it with limited space at 12 though.
The_Brown_Hornet
John Eales (66)
If we're going to have Izzy and TK in the centres, I'd rather have them swapped around so Izzy is at 13. I still would prefer that we had him at fullback though.
TSR
Andrew Slack (58)
I think there has to be an asterisk next to the 12 position until such time as Lealiifano and Hunt (at least) are able to train. Until then it would seem likely probable that someone else is filling that jersey.
I do find it a bit surprising that Folau is one of the ones doing the filling in.
I do find it a bit surprising that Folau is one of the ones doing the filling in.
Groucho
Greg Davis (50)
Folau isn't a poor distributor, let alone the poorest. He's certainly given some very good passes for the Waratahs.
But regardless of all of that, the last thing you want is Folau throwing long passes to someone who isn't Folau. You want him taking on the line and players running off his shoulder out of contact. Like Money Bill Williams does for the Kiwis, but more reliably beating the first defender.
But regardless of all of that, the last thing you want is Folau throwing long passes to someone who isn't Folau. You want him taking on the line and players running off his shoulder out of contact. Like Money Bill Williams does for the Kiwis, but more reliably beating the first defender.
ACT Crusader
Jim Lenehan (48)
When Nonu first moved to 12 for the ABs in 2008 I wasn't really a fan, but what was clear is that the AB coaches had moved on from the Mauger/McAllister 2nd 5 and wanted a more direct player to better utilise Conrad Smith as the centre who ran good support lines and distributed well. It was convenient that both of the abovementioned players moved overseas after the 2007 World Cup.
Nonu stepped up his game considerably over time with that opportunity and became a complete player - passing, running, support, play making.
Whether or not Folau moves to 12 remains to be seen but given appears at least to be an opportunity opened up with all the injuries etc, I think Folau has a solid skill base to work from to become an excellent midfield player.
Nonu stepped up his game considerably over time with that opportunity and became a complete player - passing, running, support, play making.
Whether or not Folau moves to 12 remains to be seen but given appears at least to be an opportunity opened up with all the injuries etc, I think Folau has a solid skill base to work from to become an excellent midfield player.
Viking
Mark Ella (57)
I consider him a poor distributor. He has horrible timing, and for some-one who has probably the best running game in world rugby and breaks a shit load of tackles he does not offload very often. Is he even capable of throwing a long ball?
To be fair, Folau is improving in this area but there is only so much a player can improve given their natural skill-set or lack-thereof. I doubt whether he is capable of developing a ball-game similar to Nonu or even SBW's.
He's 6th on the Super Rugby offload list.
The reduced squad should be announced fairly soon I think.
News is that Reece Hodge will make the cut.
Viking
Mark Ella (57)
I wonder how those stats compare to last year and the year before. Certainly an area he is improving.
I need to start watching more Tahs games. Missed a chunk load this season.
Brumby Runner
Jason Little (69)
If Cheika goes with retaining two sets of 15 players for opposed training sessions, then I wouldn't be surprised if Hodge makes the cut. We are fairly short on for mid field and outside backs atm.
Second row would also then be a difficult area to cull down to four bodies.
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